Since 2016 the Thompson students have led Zero Waste Campaigns to advocate for industrial composting and the elimination of trash in the Arlington School District. These successful campaigns have resulted in a 97% reduction of lunch time waste. The Thompson students would like to share the successes of our Zero Waste campaigns and inspire students to run similar campaigns in their towns and school districts.

The Thompson Green Team hopes to make films and podcasts about our Zero Waste Campaigns, so we can provide the tools and inspiration to other students. The students' Zero Waste Campaigns including last year's "This is the Last Straw" Campaign are developed in the classrooms, after school during Green Team meetings and during all school events such as assemblies and PTO events. The Green Team hopes to capture Thompson students in action in all these locations.

This year the Green Team club and the 5th grade classes have been developing skills in creating editorials, podcasts and films and hope to submit their work for public viewing on ACMi, the Arlington cable media station, National Public Radio and the Arlington Podcasts for the Planet. The Green Team club including many of the student leaders in the 5th grade hope to eventually create a Green Team media channel.

The 4th graders are writing persuasive essays to eliminate the plastic cups, utensils and containers out of the school district and are writing petitions to change food packaging and cafeteria policies. They may choose to use pictures and video to get their zero waste messages to businesses, government leaders and other students.

Ms. Dichter's second graders have adapted Coco Kallis' Don't Dump Trash song. "Don't Make Trash Anywhere. It Hurts Our Bodies and Our Minds and Generations of Humankind. So Don't Make Trash Anywhere." The second graders have filmed their song to share their zero waste messages and support programming during Bash the Trash and Earth Week. This song will likely be the sound track to the Green Team club's video podcast for the NPR student podcast challenge.

Given the students' goals of increased visibility and impact we would like parents to complete this additional release form.

The Thompson Green Team will use your child's picture for communication of student zero waste campaigns in the Arlington school district and wider community if you have given Arlington Public Schools permission to use your child's picture. Thompson Green Team will use a picture or video of your child in a large crowd, class, grade or all school scene if you have given Arlington Public Schools permission to use your child's picture or video. If the Thompson Green Team features your child in a picture or video, we would like to obtain this additional release form. Thank you!

The Thompson Green Team aims to give all Thompson students an opportunity to participate in positive and meaningful sustainability curriculum.

If you have any questions about Thompson Green Team, please email Elizabeth Rocco at egrocco@gmail.com.

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